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Reproductive outcome in offspring of parents occupationally exposed to lead in Norway
Author(s) -
Irgens Ågot,
Krüger Kirsti,
Skorve Anne H.,
Irgens Lorentz M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199811)34:5<431::aid-ajim3>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - medicine , offspring , environmental health , occupational exposure , pregnancy , lead (geology) , lead exposure , obstetrics , demography , genetics , cats , sociology , biology , geomorphology , geology
In Norway, great efforts have been made to protect both male and female employees against teratogenic exposures. Associations between occupational lead exposure and reproductive outcome in the offspring were studied. All births in Norway 1970–1993 with possible maternal or paternal occupational lead exposure were compared with a reference population of offspring of parents without occupational lead exposure. Offspring of lead exposed mothers had an increased risk of low birth weight (RR = 1.34; CI = 1.12–1.60) and neural tube defects (RR = 2.87; CI = 1.05–6.38). Effects on birth weight and gestational age showed significant dose‐response associations. Offspring of lead exposed fathers had no increased risks of any of the analyzed reproductive outcomes. However, decreased risks were observed of low birth weight (RR = 0.91; CI = 0.86–0.96) and preterm birth (RR = 0.89; CI = 0.86–0.93). Further efforts seem to be needed to protect the offspring of lead‐exposed mothers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:431–437, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.